So as the transfer window starts to kick into gear, managers are on the hunt for players to improve the squad for next year. And whilst big-money signings are exciting for fans and players, free agents can be just as useful. With that in mind, here is my team, composed entirely of free agents from the Barclays Premier League (4-4-2).
GOALKEEPER: Craig Gordon
Despite being a Newcastle fan, I will admit that Craig Gordon is a goalkeeper of the highest quality. Why Sunderland have released thier record signing (at the time), I have no idea, but he would be a superb buy for any club.
RIGHT-BACK: Jose Bosingwa
A quick wing-back, who can deliver a good ball into the area, this is a great addition to any team. Besides his mono-brow, he really has no obvious flaws, and just helped Chelsea secure the Champions League. He is reliable and can defend as well as anyone on his day.
CENTRE-BACKS: Ledley King, Paul Scharner
Ledley King has been a rock for Tottenham. Unfortunately his Achilles Heel is his knee. The fact that he cannot play all the games in a season is a tragedy, but he would make almost any team in the Premier L
eague for a one-off game or cup run. He would captain my side.
Paul Scharner is a very good footballer. He has a good eye for goal, and is good with a tackle. Likes to get forward, but with the right partner could be superb for the right team.
LEFT-BACK: Tamas Kadar
I felt very sorry for this lad. Young, and clearly very talented, I feel Alan Pardew didn't really give him a chance. Can play at Left Back, or Centre Back, and has a great engine. Works hard, and just needs a chance at the right club.
RIGHT MIDFIELD: Saloman Kalou
Another verstaile player. Unselfish, with great vision and a neat finisher, he could be crucial to a team's goal tally. Did well for Chelsea for several years. An international for a very good team. Well worth the money for his signature.
CENTRE MIDFIELD: Danny Guthrie, Owen Hargreaves
Danny Guthrie was unlucky at Newcastle. He was third choice to two of the best midfielders in the Premier League. As a rsult of this he has left to secure more first team football. His passing game is stylish and he can hit a sweet dead ball. A great box to box midfielder.
Some may say this is a suprise, but the quality thay Owen Hargreaves had when he was at Bayern Munich and for a time at Manchester United makes him a worthwhile gamble. An England international, who has won his league 5 times and te Champions League twice, this guy is a winner.
STRIKERS: Didier Drogba, Michael Owen
Drogba is simply a class apart. When Chelsea perform well at any tournament, his goals are usually fundamental. He is strong, quick, good in the air and clinical. It is no suprise that Shanghai just signed a deal where they will pay him 9.5 million pounds per year. It seems like a lot, but if Chelsea supporters were told Drogba had been sold for 19 million pounds, they would say he was worth every penny and more.
Michael Owen is another winner. Having played for Liverpool and Real Madrid, he has played for some of the biggest european clubs. Admittedly he is not what he used to be, and is getting old, but his pace and footballing brain will earn him goals. A calm, but clinical finish wont hurt his goals tally either. As we found at Newcastle it is a matter of getting him both the service, and making sure he doesn't kill himself.
